Watch: How toxic smog from wildfires is making Indonesians sick

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Watch: How toxic smog from wildfires is making Indonesians sick. (2026, September 23). BBC News. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/videos/c962j1jgx884o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss

Dated when The Aporia collected the article, usually within hours of publication. Check the original for its exact date and byline.

BBC News · collected 2026-09-23

Quick Summary

Wildfires in Indonesia have caused severe smog that led to approximately 175,000 people suffering from respiratory illnesses since August. Air quality has deteriorated significantly not just in Indonesia but also in neighboring Malaysia and Singapore. The BBC's Liza Tambunan reports on the health impacts of the toxic haze and Indonesia’s efforts to address the issue.

Written by AI on 2026-09-23, from this article's own text only (the story summary below draws on all the coverage).

AI analysis

Story summary

Since August, over 175,000 people in Indonesia have suffered from respiratory illnesses due to toxic smog caused by widespread forest fires in regions like West Kalimantan on Borneo island and Sumatra. More than 40,000 cases involve toddlers, with conditions ranging from coughs to pneumonia. The haze has affected not only Indonesia but also neighboring countries such as Malaysia and Singapore, pushing air quality indices into "unhealthy" territory. Indonesia has deployed over 54,000 officials and several aircraft for water bombing operations in an effort to combat the fires. However, the challenging terrain and vast areas of peatland make it difficult to control the blazes effectively. The country is experiencing a particularly severe dry season this year, exacerbating the situation.

Written for “Indonesian Haze Crisis” on 2026-10-31, grounded in this article and the 1 other(s) covering the same event.

Story

📰 Indonesian Haze Crisis

Environment · 2 article(s) covering the same event. See how they differ ↓

Compared with similar articles

This article reads unscored and hedges 0% of its claims. Each row says how that neighbour differs.

More than 170,000 respiratory cases recorded in haze-choked Indonesia Same event

BBC News

Hedges 2 of 24 claims Outlet record 68/100

‘Open, close, reopen’: return of choking haze traps Malaysian schools in limbo Different event

South China Morning Post

Hedges 0 of 5 claims Outlet record 64/100

“While both articles discuss the impact of smog from wildfires on health and schooling, Article A provides a broader overview affecting multiple countries, whereas Article B focuses specifically on school closures in Serian district due to high API readings.”

‘All we could see was red’: The wildfires choking Indonesian Borneo Different event

The Sydney Morning Herald

Hedges 6 of 54 claims Outlet record 61/100

“While both articles discuss wildfires in Indonesia causing health issues due to smog, Article A provides an overview of the situation affecting a broader area and population, while Article B focuses on a specific incident involving a community fighting a wildfire.”

How this article was measured signals, leaning charts, publisher record, byline, topics and claims